Video After The Jump
TAMPA, Fla. (WESH) — A 24-year-old woman was able to fight off an attacker who chased her around a gym at an apartment complex in Tampa last month.
“As soon as he was approaching me,” recalled Nashali Alma. “I pushed him. I said, ‘Bro, what the f*** are you doing?'”
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred Jan. 22 at a gym in the Inwood Park Apartment Complex and was caught on a security camera.
Nashali Alma told deputies she was exercising alone when a man identified as Xavier Thomas-Jones arrived at the gym. She said she felt comfortable letting him into the facility because she saw him there before.
In surveillance video released Wednesday, the man can be seen approaching Alma & grabbing at her waist.
“Next thing you know,” said Alma. “I get up from doing my workout & I grab my phone & he just approaches me & not a single word was exchanged.”
Alma told him to go away & tried to leave the gym, but he started chasing her around the facility & was able to grab her & pin her to the floor. Alma was eventually able to fight off her attacker, run out of the gym & call 911.
“When it was happening, I actually had no fear,” said Alma. “I am a body builder & I’m actually pretty strong, so in my mind, he was kind of equal to me.”
Thomas-Jones fled, but was tracked down & arrested 24 hours later. He faces charges of sexual battery, false imprisonment & kidnapping.
“I would tell every woman always to keep fighting, never give up,” Alma said. “As long as you fight back & show him that you’re strong & you’re not giving up, I believe it’s possible to escape.”
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